Important Update on Board Decision

The Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine recently concluded a two-year investigation of a complaint filed against Dr. Alok Kanojia (Dr. K) of Healthy Gamer (healthygamergg_) Docket No. 20-296.

The investigation found that Dr. Kanojia “engaged in conduct that undermine[d] the public confidence in the integrity of the medical profession” in his interviews with the late streamer, Reckful. As a result, Dr. Kanojia’s license has been reprimanded.

While this is a disciplinary action, it does not come with any fines, penalties, or limitations to Dr. Kanojia's ability to practice medicine. It also does not alter Dr. Kanojia's involvement with Healthy Gamer.

You can find the board’s full investigation and decision here.

Far before this complaint was filed, Dr. Kanojia and the Healthy Gamer team took self-corrective actions to address the most problematic aspects of guest interviews while still allowing for meaningful discussion around mental health.

Though the initial complaint was more limited, Dr. Kanojia asked to expand the scope for all interviews and for his role during Reckful’s acute phases.

The Board’s investigation found that Dr. Kanojia acted within "standard referral guidelines, including referrals for outpatient care, higher levels of [sic] care, and guidance around the use of emergency services" in private “conversations with Reckful and his friends.” Upon asking, the Board did not require the removal or alteration of any of the content, correspondence with previous guests, or anything specifically related to Healthy Gamer.

Additionally, before this complaint was filed in 2022, Healthy Gamer had already taken steps to change how we do interviews. Over the past five years, we have formalized a process which includes:

• Scheduling interviews in advance to:
  • a) avoid spur-of-the-moment comments,
  • b) allow guests to formulate what they want to talk about;
  • c) privately back out
• Offering guests a boundary-setting call before the interview to specify off-limits topics. Sometimes at this step, one or both sides determine the interview is too sensitive, and it is canceled or postponed.
• Always giving guests the right to have their interviews removed. This has been requested twice, and we’ve (of course) complied both times.
• We’ve established a Scientific Advisory Board that advise on policies/procedures for content, coaching, and other core activities.

Read more about the corrective actions we took prior to the complaint in our full update regarding the Board’s decision.

It continues to be an honor and a privilege to be able to do this work at scale and encourage thousands of people everyday to take action towards better mental health. We're learning and growing, too. Thank you for everything you have contributed towards making Healthy Gamer a force for good on the internet.